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Health Education

The global health environment is becoming increasingly complex. Social, demographic and epidemiological transformations fed by globalization, urbanization and ageing populations pose challenges of a magnitude that was not anticipated three decades ago.

Uganda adopted the Village Health Teams (VHTs) strategy in 2001 as a bridge in health service delivery between community and health facilities. This assessment sought to establish the VHT programme functionality in Uganda.

The Ministry of Health is implementing the Village Health Team (VHT) strategy to ensure that every village in Uganda has capacity to mobilize individuals and households for better health. VHT members are community volunteers who are selected by communities to provide correct health information, mobilize communities and provide linkage to health services.

As a VHT member You should know your village well, share information and advice with village members, refer village members to health services for care, serve as a link between your village and the health unit, and mobilize the village for health activities. Your knowledge, skills, and willingness to serve will help ensure the health and well-being of the village.

The purpose of this basic level training resource is to assist with the training of primary ear and hearing workers in developing countries, especially focused on Village Health Care Workers. The role of the village health care worker is vitally important for the prevention of ear and hearing disorders.

This situation analysis was carried out to document the current situation of Village Health Teams in Uganda, their numbers, functionality and activities. It is intended to serve as a surrogate baseline for Districts, many of which have little or no documentation of VHT implementation.

Global childhood mortality
Nearly eleven million children die each year before reaching their fifth birthday. About two thirds of these deaths are due to pneumonia, diarrhoea, measles, malaria,neonatal causes, or malnutrition. Death often results from a combination of these conditions, which typically account for three out of four sick children seeking care at a health facility.

In 1993 the World Health Organization (WHO) undertook a comprehensive review of the uses and interpretation of anthropometric references. The review concluded that the NCHS/WHO growth reference, which had been recommended for international use since the late 1970s, did not adequately represent early childhood growth and that new growth curves were necessary. The World Health Assembly endorsed this recommendation in 1994.